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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Marion Jones was sentenced Friday to six months in prison for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam, despite beseeching the judge that she not be separated from her two young children "even for a short period of time."

"I ask you to be as merciful as a human being can be,'' said Jones, who cried on her husband's shoulder after she was sentenced.

The disgraced former Olympic champion was ordered to surrender March 11 to begin her term.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas said he gave her the maximum under her plea deal to send a message to athletes who have abused drugs and overlooked the values of "hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship."

"Athletes in society have an elevated status, they entertain, they inspire, and perhaps, most important, they serve as role models," Karas said.

Later Friday, Karas was to sentence Jones' former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, who was convicted in the check-fraud scam.

The 31-year-old Jones also was given two years' probation and supervised release, during which she will be required to perform 800 hours of community service.

"As everyone can imagine, I'm very disappointed today," Jones told reporters outside court. "But as I stood in front of all of you for years in victory, I stand in front of you today. I stand for what is right."

"I respect the judge's order, and I truly hope that people will learn from my mistakes," added Jones.

The judge said this would take advantage of Jones' "eloquence, strength and her ability to work with kids."

It was her children that worried Jones most as she beseeched the judge for a lighter sentence, talking at length about her two boys, including the infant son she's still nursing.

"My passion in life has always been my family," Jones said. "I know the day is quickly approaching when my boys ask me about these current events. I intend to be honest and forthright ... and guide them into not making the same mistakes."

The sentence completes a stunning fall for the woman who was once the most celebrated female athlete in the world. She won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

After long denying she ever had used performance-enhancing drugs, Jones admitted last October she lied to federal investigators in November 2003, acknowledging she took the designer steroid "the clear" from September 2000 to July 2001. "The clear" has been linked to BALCO, the lab at the center of the steroids scandal in professional sports.

She also admitted lying about her knowledge of the involvement of Tim Montgomery, the father of her older son Monty, in a scheme to cash millions of dollars worth of stolen or forged checks. Montgomery and several others have been convicted in that scam. They include Jones' former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, who was to be sentenced later Friday.

"The revelation that one of the sport's biggest stars took performance-enhancing drugs and repeatedly lied about it, in addition to being a party to fraud, has no silver lining," USA Track & Field president Bill Roe and CEO Craig Masback said in a statement. "But, it is a vivid morality play that graphically illustrates the wages of cheating in any facet of life, on or off the track."

After her guilty pleas last October, Jones made an apologetic and teary-eyed statement outside court, saying, "It's with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust."

"I have been dishonest, and you have the right to be angry with me," she added. "I have let [my family] down. I have let my country down, and I have let myself down. ... I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Jones returned her Olympic medals -- golds in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 1,600-meter relay and bronzes in the long jump and 400-meter relay -- even before the International Olympic Committee ordered her to do so and wiped her results from the books.

Jones was among the many athletes who testified in 2003 before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

On the day she pleaded guilty, prosecutors said a 2003 search warrant at BALCO uncovered ledgers, purchases, doping calendars, and various blood-test results connected to Jones and former coach Trevor Graham.

She took EPO, human growth hormone and THG using drops and injections, according to the court documents that show use in 2000 and 2001.

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

She's not going to jail for taking illegal drugs, she's going to jail for lying about it. I believe Barry is the only baseball player who's been under oath, so he would be the only one int he same boat.

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

If she would have told the truth she wouldn't even be at trial. She is going to jail for lying, not what she has done. No different then Lil' Kim going to jail for lying about witnessing a murder. They are going after Bonds for lying and Tax evasion, not possessing or using drugs. I personally know a few people that HAVE been caught with steroids, most never even got charged, the other got a fine equal to that of drunk in public.

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

How does this differ so much from a person who smokes weed or other recreational drugs? A normal non athlete would not get any jail time, but she gets 6 months? Something is wrong with our system.

I would like to see all baseball players get this same sentence then, every last one of them.

I'm sure the sentence also had something to do with this...

She also admitted lying about her knowledge of the involvement of Tim Montgomery, the father of her older son Monty, in a scheme to cash millions of dollars worth of stolen or forged checks. Montgomery and several others have been convicted in that scam. They include Jones' former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, who was to be sentenced later Friday.

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

Too bad she was not in los Angeles, she would be released on her way in. Wait, no she is not a celeb.

I think of what Paris and Nicole Richie did as much worse, drunk driving is far worse than taking roids.

The only thing about what Paris did is when she was arrested for drunk driving she blew a .081. That screams targeting right there, however, when she puts herself out in the public the way she does, it's a little hard to have sympathy for her.

Chuck Lidell: I paint my toenails with pink and black polish. Problem is, I get more paint on my toes and on the carpet than on my nails. Any advice?Maria Sharapova: Don't you beat up other guys for a living? I don't know how to answer this.

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

As has been noted... she is in jail for lying before a grand jury - similar if I'm not mistaken to why congress was going to impeech former President Clinton (lying about recieving certain uh, favors..., not for actually recieving them)

Oh we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa State, and may her colors ever fly!!! In Accordance with Prophecy

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

Originally Posted by Flag Guy

As has been noted... she is in jail for lying before a grand jury - similar if I'm not mistaken to why congress was going to impeech former President Clinton (lying about recieving certain uh, favors..., not for actually recieving them)

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. ~ George Carlin

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves Orcs. ~ John Rogers

Re: Marion Jones gets 6 months???

Those who have the gold, make the rules. Or is is those who make the rules have the gold??? I think they both are true.

Wait in our country it is, those who make the rules steal the gold from those who follow the rules.

That's just the NCAA...

Chuck Lidell: I paint my toenails with pink and black polish. Problem is, I get more paint on my toes and on the carpet than on my nails. Any advice?Maria Sharapova: Don't you beat up other guys for a living? I don't know how to answer this.

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